200 BIRDS OF BRITISH GlIANA, 



The female described was oLtained on the Ituribisi Kiver in 

 F<bra:iry 1907, 



Ijreeding- season. Unknown in British Guiana. 



Xest. Unrecorded in Britisli Guiana. 



Kygs. Uudescribed from British Guiana. 



Ranye in British Guiana. Iiuribisi River, Abary River, 

 Arawai River {McConnell coUedion) ; Georgetown, Essequebo 

 {Quelch) ; Rupununi River (Whitily) ; Carloonie RivtT {Brown)', 

 Barima River, Cuyuni River, Abary River (Beehe). 



ExtraVunital Range. Colombia, Ecuador. Bruzil to Rio Parana, 

 Central America to the Southern United States. 



Habits. Schoniburgk states (Reis. Guian. iii. p. 764) that he 

 found this bird on the banks of the rivers and creeks; also near 

 the cataracts. He met with it at an altitu«ie of 1200 feet, generally 

 singly, sometimes in pairs, and more rarely in small flock-. AVhen 

 it is not feeding, it rests on the outerniost branches of the trees 

 on the river-bank and is tlius enaVjled to survey the whole river. 

 At the slightest movement in tlio proximity it stretches out its 

 long neck, and if not re-assured it flies ofl"; it is difficult, there- 

 fore, to obtain specimens. It is equally unapproachable when in 

 ihe water, being a good swimmer and an expert diver — in fact, 

 Avhen swimming its small head only is seen above the surface of 

 the water. If wounded by a shot when sitting on a branch, or 

 taken by surprise, it does not fly away, but immediately dives 

 ]»erpendicularly into the water, and remains there from ten to 

 twelve minutes ; when rising to the surface for air it puts only its 

 bill and nostrils above the water and returns again btdow the 

 surface and thus evade its pursuers. Its flesh is rank and unedible. 

 Schomburgk did not find it nesting. The "Macusis" call it 

 K^njawick and the " Warraus'' JJojo/i. 



Mr. J. J. Q'lelch met with this bird on the Abary River and 

 remarks (Timehri (2) ii, p. 373) that the Diver or Ducklar {Plotus 

 auldnga) at times travelled along the Creek, but well ahead of 

 the boat. 



We qnote the following note from Mr. Beebe (Our Search for 

 a AVihlerness, p. 251) : — '' Snakebirds were perched in solitary 

 state at frequent intervals along the banks, silent, sinister-looking, 

 craning their necks out at ns, and either dropping quietly into the 

 water and sinking from view or flapping heavilj'^ upward. 

 Ordinarily their flight is very Pelican-like; six or eight flaps, then a 



